I’m glad that’s not my tax bill!
In 2016, the EU launched a number of investigations into company tax procedures within the EU. Specifically, those who are paying them, who still owes them and who is dodging them. Following an EU commission investigation into Apple, it was found that the technology giant owes Ireland over €13b in unpaid taxes.
This was I might add before Apple decided to move it’s iTunes headquarters there. Also for suspicious tax reasons.
Following an EU commission investigation into Apple, it was found that the technology giant owes Ireland over €13b in unpaid taxes. As such, the commission ordered that the amount had to be paid and it was Ireland’s responsibility to get it back.
Well, here we are, nearly one year on and there’s a slight problem. Ireland hasn’t managed to recover any amount of note from Apple. Therefore the €13b tax debt remains outstanding.
The story isn’t quite as explosive as their iPhone8, but still, shocking!
Why hasn’t Apple paid the bill?
Well, in a report via Reuters, the reasoning is quite bizarre. Put simply, it seems that the Irish government hasn’t tried to claim it or the very least, hasn’t made much progress.
At this point, might I add that I wish I paid taxes to the Irish government if this is how they treat tax owed.
Based on this, the EU is taking the matter to court. Apple though isn’t going, it’s Ireland. Yes, the EU courts are bringing Ireland in to ask them why they haven’t taken the money.
It’s the equivalent of a headmaster blaming the teacher for not disciplining the naughty child.
Apple does have a rather shocking history of paying their taxes. Using small European states or general loopholes, they tend to avoid it as much as possible. Recent reports suggested that they have not paid any taxes in New Zealand for over 10 years.
Now, don’t get me wrong, no one likes taxes, but we all accept that we do have to pay them. Therefore when big companies like Apple trade in your country and make billions in sales, it’s not unreasonable for them to pay for the privilege.
There is the counter-argument that these companies provide jobs and these jobs provide workers who pay taxes, but that doesn’t wash with me.
What do you think? Is Apple or Ireland more to blame here? Let us know in the comments!
Of course they haven’t tried, if they did then the other multinationals might think we’re not an illegal TAX haven and move elsewhere. Then where would we be, encouraging home-grown entrepreneurs? Making the country richer and more independent in the long-term? Perhaps even getting our glut of unemployed programmers jobs? Surely no one could possibly want that.
Long-story-short, our government is grossly corrupt and has been for decades. We all know it, we just get on with it.